A feasibility study to determine cooling time and burnup of advanced test reactor fuel using a nondestructive technique and three types of gamma-ray detectors

J. Navarro, R. Aryaeinejad, D. W. Nigg

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The goal of this work was to perform a feasibility study and establish measurement techniques to determine the burnup of the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) fuels at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Three different detectors of high purity germanium (HPGe), lanthanum bromide (LaBr3), and high pressure xenon (HPXe) in two detection system configurations of below and above the water pool were used in this study. The last two detectors were used for the first time in fuel burnup measurements. The results showed that a better quality spectra can be achieved with the above the water pool configuration. Both short and long cooling time fuels were investigated in order to determine which measurement technique, absolute or fission product ratio, is better suited in each scenario and also to establish what type of detector should be used in each case for the best burnup measurement. The burnup and cooling time calibrations were established using experimental absolute activities or isotopic ratios and ORIGEN burnup calculations. A method was developed to do burnup and cooling time calibrations using fission isotopes activities without the need to know the exact geometry.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationReactor Dosimetry
Subtitle of host publication14th International Symposium
PublisherASTM International
Pages489-511
Number of pages23
ISBN (Print)9780803175365
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes
Event14th International Symposium on Reactor Dosimetry - Bretton Woods, NH, United States
Duration: May 22 2011May 27 2011

Publication series

NameASTM Special Technical Publication
Volume1550 STP
ISSN (Print)0066-0558

Conference

Conference14th International Symposium on Reactor Dosimetry
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBretton Woods, NH
Period05/22/1105/27/11

Keywords

  • Gamma-ray spectroscopy
  • Spent fuel burnup
  • Spent fuel cooling time

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